The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) presents its 1991 report on the state of America's children. An introductory call to action includes seven steps that CDF will take to attain its goals and 10 lessons to guide activists. The rest of the report focuses on: (1) family income and employment; (2) child care; (3) health; (4) education; (5) youth development; (6) housing and homelessness; and (7) vulnerable children and families. Appendices provide statistical data on numerous variables relating to U.S. children compared to children in the rest of the world, characteristics of U.S. children as a whole, and characteristics of children in each of the 50 states and in major cities. An index of over 425 entries ranges from AFDC to YouthBuild. Entries with the largest number of page references are child care and education. (RH)